Post by Johans Nidorino on Sept 27, 2010 21:25:02 GMT -5

That reminds me... Bulbapedia says that the anime roar of Giratina is the same as Mothra's, and describes Palkia's roar as an overlapping of "Godzilla and King Ghidorah's roar with the roar of a Varactyl [from Star Wars]". You guys can listen to a sample of Palkia's anime roar in Brawl (for immediate access, they're 26 to 28 in the Spear Pillar set here).

Registeel's cry in the games has been compared to the Transformers' transformation sound, though they're maybe too different to say they match.

Post by The Qu on Sept 28, 2010 21:00:19 GMT -5

Swellow's shiny sprite is based on the Resplendant Quetzal:Very cool, even if it doesn't make much sense. This is one of the few Shinies I know that is based on something aside from the original source. (The others are Lugia, Relicanth and Wooper.)

Post by Johans Nidorino on Sept 28, 2010 22:50:08 GMT -5

Nice comparison for shiny Swellow I guess you'd add it to your list of Western Pokémon.

These I've heard about shinies (both serious and possible jokes):- The Incredible Hulk for Machamp line- Another type of hyena for shiny Poochyena and Mightyena (thanks to Hutcheon)- The regis being forms of candy dolls- Yorterrie being a different breed of terrier

Self-game references in addition to the Poké Ball ones:- Sableye's gems being emerald instead of ruby/sapphire (however there's also a yellow gem together with the "emerald", so they could have been mere color replacements)

Post by The Qu on Sept 28, 2010 23:13:03 GMT -5

The list of Western Pokemon was originally based on Western concepts, and I think Koopaul would rather keep it that way. Western animals are a whole 'nother thing, and much more common than Western based myths, etc, as inspirations for Pokemon.

Post by Johans Nidorino on Sept 28, 2010 23:28:16 GMT -5

Speaking of Western-influenced Pokémon, I think Ludicolo could be considered a mix of cultures if preserving the kappa origin, because the sombrero, the poncho and its frequent connection to festiveness and music make it look a lot like a charro.

Post by The Qu on Sept 30, 2010 18:39:03 GMT -5

Time for a twofer! Or a fourfer, rather...

Sproink and Grumpig

I'm going to start this off by saying that these two pigs are the only Pokemon to my knowledge to be based on something from the Bible. Not only are they completely inocuous, they are based on a rather odd verse not typically known for being in the Bible.

So, long story short, in the Book of Matthew, Christ gives a long sermon on judging other folks. (Which most modern Christians could stand to read, I might ad.) And, for the most part, it consists of very strange metephors, including the famous "remove they mote". On the subject of giving wisdom to those who won't listen: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6)

So, from this strange bit of scripture, a mildly well known phrase arose. And I can hear you out there now, saying "Hey Qu. I totally doubt this is where the piggies came from," to which I say, "Dude, how many other pig-pearl connections can you think of?"

There is also the possiblity they are partially based on a literal interpretation of the phrase "spring pig", which could have contributed, I guess.

Barboach & Whiscash

These might seem failry cut and dry. They are based on catfish, right? Well, mostly.

Barboach is probably based on loaches. Anybody who has played Ocarina of Time as much as I have will remember the Loach in that game- a long, thin fish. They seem to be based on the Weather Loach in particular, a common loach eaten in Japan. Its Japanese name, Dojoach, seems to be a combination of Dojo (Japanese for Loach) and tsuchi, meaning ground, or a contraction of the Dojo Loach

However, the real interesting stuff comes into play with Whiscash. So to get the obvious out of the way, yes, it's based on a catfish and their bottom feeding antics. The electricity probably refers to the way they use bio-electricity in navigation, although I can attest to the fact that catfish are electric according to folklore (at least in the American South). But what of the earthquakes?

It's not exactly uncommon knowledge for dorks like us, but in Japan, earthquakes were once blamed on Namazu, a giant catfish. The fish lives in the mud under the Earth and is guarded by the God Kashima, who restrains the big ol' fishy with a stone. When Kashima gets lazy, Namazu thrashes around, causing earthquakes. And yes, Whiscash can also learn Thrash by breeding.

Namazu isn't especially well represented in videogames, but a prominant example is Big Namazu, the Japanese name for the Catfish that gives you Quake in A Link to the Past. I believe that speaks for itself. And one last thing- Whiscash's shiny coloration matches the traditional colors of Namazu quite well, although they could easily be the colors of some sort of Catfish in Japan.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~To add more to the Shiny discussion...Cacturne's Shiny form greatly resembles a scarecrow, moreso than it does normally. I could never really see the resemblence until now. It makes me want to run it on a team inspired by R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books...

Cacnea's shiny looks like a pumpkin, according to some. I can kinda see it.

Post by Johans Nidorino on Sept 30, 2010 22:04:55 GMT -5

Since when have we not been interested in the very origin of everything? Of course it matters.

And yeah, my Philosophy teacher, aged 70, was the only nearby person who used to know the exact chapter and verse when I was in school. Other than that, I expect Bible-studying Christians to know it by heart.

Post by Johans Nidorino on Oct 1, 2010 9:36:08 GMT -5

^ It can't possibly be anything else.

Some speculative shinies, most of them gotten from Bulbapedia:

- Shiny Ditto is blue, which could reference the fact that Ditto can act either as a mother or a father in Pokémon Day Care centers... Mew is also this color if shiny.- Shiny Squirtle's shell is green, while regular Squirtle's is reddish, which coincides with the original Koopa Troopa colors (also true of its evolved forms)- Shiny Luvdisc could be a reference to the concept of "heart of gold"- Shiny Beedrill looks like this greenish bee- Shiny Bronzor has the color of oxidized bronze- Shiny Hitmonchan's gloves, together with standard Hitmonchan's gloves, comprise the colors of "red corner" and "blue corner"... Which reminds me, the theme of "red and green" is often found as subtle references to the colors of the original Japanese games.- Shiny Regigigas' purple color is said to go along with its royalty status

Bulbapedia says shiny Cloyster's color could reference the rock band Blue Öyster Cult... I'm not sure. It's the kind of references that would happen only in the American dub of the anime (there was some episode called "Riding the Winds of Change!" referencing the Scorpions--the episode was about Gligar and Gliscor).

Also from Bulbapedia, shiny Slugma's color could be hardened magma, but I believe hardened magma should be darker.